Blog Post By Sarit Yahalomi (Check it out at Coffee Books & Art to comment and enter the giveaway if you haven’t already!!!)
Shadow of the Witte Wieven
by Debbie Peterson
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BLURB:
Despite a contract on her head, lone Drug Enforcement Agent, Aliyana Montijo must ferret out a mole and stop the assassination of top DEA officials, as so ordered by the Colombian drug lord she seeks to take down. The task is a daunting one, for there is no one she can trust. No one that is, until she encounters a most unlikely ally.
Former seventeenth century captain of the Dutch West Indies Company, Wolfaert Dircksen Van Ness, now from a parallel dimension, encounters the beautiful agent during an unearthly storm in the Bermuda triangle. Drawn to the Spanish beauty he rescues, he pledges his assistance, despite her reluctance to accept either his help or his heart.
Can Wolf bridge both space and time to claim the woman he loves?
Excerpt:
Something terrible had happened. She could feel it. She raced toward her supplies and grabbed hold of her backpack. Her fingers shook as she unzipped the bag and yanked out her phone. She tried to call Greg several times over before it dawned on her that he had already boarded a plane headed for Colombia. She wouldn’t be able to contact him until the morning.
Despite all attempts to banish it, the dread grew stronger with each passing hour. A growing notion that Wolf and his crew never vacated the sub, took firm hold. The conscientious men of the Wieven could very well have remained behind to ensure that all went according to plan. The thought of such an occurrence made her sick to her stomach. She couldn’t sleep, and she couldn’t eat. All throughout the long hours of the night, she restlessly paced along the shore, waiting, hoping—and praying.
By the time the gloomy morning arrived, what little hope she’d carried throughout the long night, dissipated. Somewhere in her heart, she finally accepted that her beloved captain wouldn’t be coming for her. Not now. Not ever again. Excruciating pain accompanied that knowledge, and in that same moment, she could feel her heart shattering into an infinite number of pieces. Even though she had endured such pain many times before, it had never assaulted her with the intensity it did right now. She didn’t know if she could survive it. Indeed, she didn’t know if she wanted to survive it.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Debbie has always had a soft spot for fairy tales, the joy of falling in love, and happily ever after endings. Stories of love and make believe filled her head for as long as she can remember. However, it was her beloved husband who encouraged, cajoled and inspired her to take up a pen and write some of them down. In 2012, The Wild Rose Press published her first novel, “Spirit of the Rebellion.”
When she’s not busy conjuring her latest novel, Debbie spends time with the members of her very large family. She also pursues her interests in family history which she also teaches, mythology, and all things ancient and historic.
Connect with Debbie:
Shadow of the Witte Wieven Buy links:
Hello Sarit, I am so excited to be here today while I answer a few of your questions. So, thank you very much for having me!
Where did you grow up?
I was born in and spent my first three years of life in southern California. From there my family moved to a small community in north-central Utah. Then, at the age of eleven, my family moved to Las Vegas. So I guess that means I get the unique opportunity of calling California, Utah, and Nevada, home! (Wow! your family certainly did some travel! !)
What’s the worst job you’ve had?
Working in the camera department at JC Penny. Not my thing…at all… I still can’t figure out why they wanted me there and after three months, I found employment elsewhere.
What do you consider your best accomplishment?
My handsome son and my four beautiful daughters! ()
What is your favorite quote?
I have an entire journal filled with favorite quotes (), so it’s very hard to choose one from among them. However, because you asked for one, I’ll have to give you at least two (Thanks !):
“The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.” Alan Ashley-Pitt “She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.” Elizabeth Edwards
Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?
I think the cover is very important. Sadly, I have found–at least in my experience–that no matter how great the book, if the cover isn’t appealing, most people will just move on without taking the time to read the book or even the blurb for that matter (It’s a well known sad fact ! people are so visual).
What do you think of “trailers” for books?
I love them! But I’m not sure they’re all that important to most readers. As I have looked at the various book trailers, I’ve noticed that the vast majority don’t have as many views as one might expect them to have. Why do you think that is? (Well, from previews reviews with other authors in the past, I mostly got a positive answers to this question. Maybe people don’t comment on the trailer themselves, but they do watch it when they have the opportunity, and maybe it did ignite their interest. But as a reader I do admit that a good cover is the first thing that sale,)
How did you come up with the title? Names?
The “Witte Wieven” is the name of Wolf’s ship, christened in honor of the lovely witch who once saved his life. That incident is explained in the prequel, entitled “Van Locken’s Witch.” The “shadow” part of the title refers to our hero, who while in this dimension is more shadow than he is flesh. Not that he lets something so trivial get in his way. The names for Wolf and his crew are Dutch names from the 17th century (Oh I it! the Dutch where well known great seamen !) , and Aliyana is one of my favorite Hispanic names for females.
What was the most surprising thing you learned while creating your books?
My most surprising discovery is that somehow the characters in each book take on a life of their own while I’m telling their story (Sure right). Many times I sit down to write a specific scene and by the time I’m finished with it, it has evolved into something quite different and without any forethought from me. I can tell you, the characters are always right! (Again, sure right)
Did you do any kind of research to determine the details of your characters’ lives / lifestyles?
Yes, I did and I do. All of my characters have careers that I know very little about (Lol!). Those careers have to be researched. In the case of Shadow of the Witte Wieven, I had to research drug cartels, the DEA, technological gadgets, and 17th brigantines, just to name a few.
Do you have strange writing habits?
Not strange really…at least I don’t think of them as strange. However I do have to have my music on and that playlist must match the mood of the scene I’m working on. I also have to have a glass of ice water by my side and either a stock of cinnamon bears () or hot tamales to nibble on…
(Mexican Food dish! I had to google it! and here one traditional from the many recipes that I found)
Ingredients:
Yield: 50 Tamales
Directions:
- In a 5 qt Dutch oven, bring pork, water, onion, garlic and 1 1/2 salt to boil.
- Simmer covered, about 2 1/2 hours or until meat is very tender.
- Remove meat from broth and allow both meat and broth to cool. (Chilling the broth will allow you to easily remove the fat if you desire to do so).
- Shred the meat using 2 forks, discarding fat.5 Strain the broth and reserve 6 cups.
- In a large sauce pan, heat the red chili sauce and add meat; simmer, covered for 10 minutes.
- To make masa beat shortening on medium speed in a large bowl for 1 minute.
- In a separate bowl, stir together masa harina, baking powder and 2 teaspoons salt.
- Alternately add masa harina mixture and broth to shortening, beating well after each addition. (Add just enough broth to make a thick, creamy paste).
- In the mean time, soak corn husks in warm water for at least 20 minutes; rinse to remove any corn silk and drain well.
- To assemble each tamale, spread 2 tablespoons of the masa mixture on the center of the corn husk (each husk should be 8 inches long and 6 inches wide at the top. If husks are small, overlap 2 small ones to form one. If it is large, tear a strip from the side).
- Place about 1 tablespoon meat and sauce mixture in the middle of the masa.
- Fold in sides of husk and fold up the bottom.
- Place a mound of extra husks or a foil ball in the center of a steamer basket placed in a Dutch oven.
- Lean the tamales in the basket, open side up.
- Add water to Dutch oven just below the basket.
- Bring water to boil and reduce heat.
- Cover and steam 40 minutes, adding water when necessary.
- To freeze these for future meals, leave them in the husks and place them in freezer bags. To reheat, thaw and wrap in a wet paper towel and reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes for one or two or re-steam them just until hot.
Hi Debbie,
It is a real great pleasure to host you on my blog!
WHEN A SCOT TIES THE KNOT
Realm of Romantic Mystical Manuscripts 